World Capitals
The Disappeared
Give Me an “M”
Here Comes the Chill
Happy Birthday!
100
This city serves as Germany’s capital and was once divided.
What is Berlin? Did you know Berlin has more bridges than Venice?
100
This mystery writer, whose sales were second only to Shakespeare, disappeared for 11 days in December 1926.
Who is Agatha Christie? The search could have been one of her greatest mysteries. It involved hound dogs, 1,000 police officers, countless civilians, a psychic, and—for the first time—airplanes. The tabloid press had a field day weaving scenarios. On the 11th day, she was found in a hotel with no memory of what happened.
100
his M is the month during which time springs forward, or a verb meaning “to move along.”
What is March (march)?
100
During the 1500s, the season of fall was known by this name, which is also the name of the moon that appears closest to the first day of fall.
What is harvest? The light provided by the harvest moon enabled farmers to harvest their crops after dark.
100
Born September 18, 1951, this retired neurosurgeon ran for president in the 2016 Republican primaries and currently serves as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Who is Dr. Ben Carson?
200
The capital of Australia lies between Sydney and Melbourne and is the country’s largest inland city.
What is Canberra? Canberra means “meeting place.”
200
On March 1, 1932, this famous American aviator’s baby went missing.
Who is Charles Lindbergh? The kidnappers demanded a $50,000 ransom, which Lindbergh paid. The baby’s decomposed body was found 72 days later, and the kidnapper was caught a little more than two years after the event.
200
This M is a person characterized by pettiness or malice, or another word for average.
What is mean? The mean is the average calculated by adding numbers and dividing the sum by the number of numbers you added.
200
Either equinox or solstice, the first day of fall coincides with this.
What is equinox? Autumn and spring fall on the equinox—when there’s an equal amount of daylight and nighttime.
200
Born September 1, 1950, Oprah Winfrey gave this psychologist a start as a weekly guest on her talk show. Today, he hosts his own syndicated talk show.
Who is Dr. Phil or Dr. Phil McGraw? He met Oprah as part of her defense team when she was sued for defaming the beef industry. (Oprah won.) Dr. Phil is known for his straight talk and common-sense solutions. He often tells people to “get real.”
300
This is the capital of Denmark.
What is Copenhagen? According to CNN, Denmark is the happiest country in the world and “also probably the center of the designer goods universe.”
300
In 1971, this passenger parachuted out of a Northwest Orient flight with $200,000 in ransom money and disappeared—never to be found.
Who is D.B. Cooper? That’s the question that has stymied authorities for decades: “Who is D.B. Cooper?” He left his tie on the airplane, and a group of citizen scientists has gleaned clues from the tie, including titanium, that lead them to believe Cooper was an aerospace engineer or a manager, possibly working for Boeing.
300
This M means “to do as you’re told,” or it refers to the part of your body that thinks and reasons.
What is mind?
300
As daylight wanes during the fall, we receive less of this vitamin from the sun.
What is vitamin D? Sunlight doesn’t actually “give” us vitamin D. Instead, it helps the body convert compounds into vitamin D.
300
Born September 24, 1962, Nia Vardalos starred in this wedding movie.
What is My Big Fat Greek Wedding? She wrote the first draft of the screenplay in two weeks, according to TV Guide. She wrote, produced, and starred in the sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.
400
This is the capital of Lebanon.
What is Beirut? The world’s first law school was located in Beirut. The city was once a great financial center and was known as “Switzerland of the East.” It was also known as “Paris of the Middle East.”
400
This 1930s and 1940s conductor disappeared on a military transport flight from England to France while serving as bandleader of the U.S. Army Air Force Band.
Who is Glenn Miller? He was on his way to entertain the troops. Neither the aircraft nor the body were found.
400
These two M words are spelled differently but are pronounced the same. One is something you eat, usually as an entrée, and the other is a verb meaning “to come together” or “to run into someone by chance.”
What is meat/meet?
400
If you were to visit Munich, Germany, in the fall, you might join the locals to usher in the season with this festival.
What is Oktoberfest? It begins in late September and runs until the first week in October.
400
Born September 21, 1950, this comedic actor joined the Saturday Night Live cast in 1976 and starred in Meatballs, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters.
Who is Bill Murray?
500
This is Mexico’s capital city.
What is Mexico City? The city, previously known as Tenochtitlan, was the capital of the Aztec civilization. It began as an island on a lake. As they reclaimed land, the lake disappeared.
500
In 2002, this 14-year-old girl vanished from her Salt Lake City bedroom and remained missing for nine months.
Who is Elizabeth Smart? She was found when she and her kidnappers were stopped by police. According to U.S. News, she was afraid to reveal her identity until “one policeman leaned in and, whispering, told her that if she was Elizabeth Smart, her family had missed her so much. And finally, she spoke: ‘I am Elizabeth.’”
500
This M is another word for the manufacturer of a vehicle and often precedes the phrase and model.
What is make? For example, BMW is the make of the car, and 328ic is the model.
500
During the fall, this animal with a fluffy tail hoards and buries nuts and seeds for the winter.
What is a squirrel?
500
Born September 23, 1920, this short actor gained fame for his Andy Hardy character.
Who is Mickey Rooney? The first Andy Hardy film was A Family Affair. He measured five feet two inches, but he was a giant in the industry.
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